Features

The LUMIX FZ200 is Panasonic’s first digital compact camera to offer the incredible advantages of a full range F2.8 aperture across the entire 24x zoom range (35mm camera equivalent: 25-600mm). This is a feature usually reserved for high-end professional lenses, and allows the FZ200 to capture moving subjects clearly with a fast shutter speed, even from a distance. Travel with more zoom than most professional interchangeable lens cameras deliver with renowned LEICA optics. At the heart of this lens is the high-quality LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT optical technology delivering 25mm ultra wide-angle performance. The FZ200 enhances shooting situations from photographing people indoors to shooting architecture or a sweeping landscape outside. Never miss a moment with high-speed burst shooting at 12 fps, and enjoy shooting full HD Video.

Fast F2.8 Aperture Across Entire Zoom Range

World’s First 25-600mm Lens with Full-Range F2.8 Aperture

The stunningly bright F2.8 aperture at 600mm is a world’s first for a digital compact camera*. You’ll have the ability to capture a moving subject, even in the distance, clearly with a fast shutter speed.

To achieve full range F2.8 with a shallow depth of field, high precision correction performance against distortion is required. The DMC-FZ200 integrates 5 aspherical lenses and 3 ED lenses to pass Leica's stringent standards. The accuracy required for the aspherical lens is within 0.1 um, which is managed by the unparalleled mold technology of the Panasonic Yamagata Factory.

24X Power O.I.S. Leica Optics [600mm]

48x Intelligent Zoom

If the 24x optical zoom is not long enough for your photographic journey, the Intelligent Zoom uses digital zoom technology with minimum deterioration of image quality thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology. The 24x optical zoom virtually extends to a 48x zoom equivalent.

25mm Ultra Wide-Angle Lens

The 25mm ultra wide-angle lens*has about twice the shooting area as a standard 35mm lens. This enhances most shooting situations, like photographing a group of people at an indoor party or shooting a large structure or sweeping landscape while traveling.

*Converted to standard 35mm camera equivalent, at the wide-end.

POWER O.I.S.

The POWER O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) suppresses vibration and hand-shake that happens when you press the shutter button or when shooting at night with a slow shutter speed. The POWER O.I.S. also works for powerful zoom shots, which are especially susceptible to hand-shake. The Active Mode is effective for video recording.

In-Camera Creative Effects

14 Creative Controls

Panasonic is ready to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary by fueling your creativity with the Creative Control feature (in the recording mode) and the Creative Retouch feature (in the playback mode). These features take simple or complicated scenes and make them easy to capture in a great photo. Simply set the camera to match your scene and it uses sophisticated presets to optimize the camera settings resulting in photos you’ll be proud of.

Photo Styles

You can choose from 6 color types ranging from monochrome to vivid resulting in photos and videos just the way you imagined them. In addition, the contrast, sharpness, saturation, and noise reduction for each mode can be customized in 5 steps and even stored in memory.

Panorama Shot

The Panorama Shot Mode makes it is possible to shoot a 360-degree horizontal/vertical panoramic image with consecutive shots taken by overlaying the previous picture.

White Balance Bracket

The white balance bracket function shoots 3 consecutive photos with slight changes to the white balance setting of each photo in both the horizontal (amber to blue) and vertical (green to magenta) axes.

3D Photo Mode

The 3D Photo Mode produces a 3D image in the camera. The image-processing method used by LUMIX records beautiful images with less distortion or visible image links.

Take 20 panning shots and the camera selects the two most suitable images – one for the right eye and one for the left eye – to synthesize a 3D composite.

The 3D image can be played back on MPO-compatible equipment such as VIERA HDTVs and digital photo frames, or even printed.

1.3MP Electronic Viewfinder

The newly developed 0.2-inch EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) features 1,312K-dot equivalent high resolution and a 100% field of view. Shoot fast-moving subjects under strong sunlight with an increased frame rate from 30fps to a maximum of 60 fps, and a minimized screen freeze.

3.0-inch Free-Angle LCD

A 3.0-inch 3:2 460K-dot free-angle LCD rotates 180° to the side and tilts 270° up and down. This LCD enables dynamic, artistic framing with high-angle shots and low-angle shots. It's convenient when shooting with a tripod too.

Focus Button

The Focus Button conveniently activates the variable AF area. During MF operation, it changes to a handy One-Shot AF function to provide initial focusing. During Playback, it gives you one-touch zoom playback of subjects in focus.

iA (Intelligent Auto) Plus

In the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode, the camera does all the work, leaving you free to compose your shot and capture the moment. Simply aim, press, and shoot. The detection and correction functions go to work to give you beautiful photos and videos. In addition, the iA Plus Mode enables you to defocus an area, adjust exposure compensation, and control white balance by simply moving a slider.

Defocus Control

The range of defocus can be adjusted to match your creativity.

Brightness Control

You can adjust the exposure compensation accurately and easily to the level you want.

Color Control

You can adjust the white balance from warm red to cool blue.

Shake Detection

Motion Deblur

The Motion Deblur Mode determines the appropriate shutter speed and suppresses motion blur. The shutter speed rises as high as possible activating the high sensitivity recording with a pixel mixed readout method.

Face Recognition

The Face Recognition function remembers faces that have been registered in the camera and provides the faces with optimal focus and exposure.

Face Detection

The Face Detection function detects faces anywhere in the frame and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure. The Face Detection also features Digital Red-Eye Correction (Red-Eye Removal) in photo recording.

Subject Detection

Once you focus on your subject, the AF Tracking system automatically and continuously tracks it and keeps it in focus with proper exposure.

Light Detection

The Intelligent D-range Control offers natural looking images by optimizing the exposure for each part of an image, preventing blocked shadows and blown highlights, and helping ensure that gradation and details are reproduced beautifully including the blue color in the sky.

Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range)

You will be delighted by the creative possibilities that Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range) delivers. Shoot several still pictures consecutively at different exposure levels that are then overlaid to produce a single composite picture without whiteout (over-exposure) or blackout (under-exposure). The results are stunning.

1-cm Macro

Ideal for taking dynamic, intricate close-ups of flowers and insects, the 1-cm Macro feature is also great for photographing artwork and crafts with spectacular detail and rich colors.

Built-in Flash

Select the flash synchronization you want from 1st Curtain Sync. or 2nd Curtain Sync. Helping you capture nightscapes with a natural flow of light. You can also adjust the intensity of light with a range of ±EV 2 in 1/3 EV steps.

Custom Mode

Custom Mode 1 gives you the power to program a series of settings you use often, while Custom Mode 2 lets you register patterns for up to 3 additional settings.

Quick Menu

Using the Q.MENU button, frequently used functions can be quickly retrieved.

12 fps Burst Rate

Approximately 0.95 sec Quick Start-Up Time

The DMC-FZ200 boasts a quick start-up time of approximately 0.95 sec. Together with Light Speed AF, the DMC-FZ200 helps you to never miss a moment.

Light Speed AF

Light Speed AF helps catch even the most fleeting photo opportunities. You can quickly focus on moving subjects such as sports, animals or kids.

12 fps with 12.1-megapixel Full Resolution

The 12.1-megapixel MOS sensor lets the DMC-FZ200 shoot 12 fps in full resolution with a mechanical shutter. You can even take a series of shots, choose the ones you like the best, and delete the rest.

Intelligent Burst Mode

When photographing a fast moving subject, but you’re not sure how to set the camera, Intelligent Burst Shooting will automatically set the frame rate of burst shooting according to the subject's movement making it easy for you to achieve gorgeous photos.

*1 The focus is fixed to the first picture.
*2 The focus, exposure and white balance are fixed to the first picture.
*3 The number of burst recording pictures is limited by the picture-taking conditions and the type and/or status of the card used.

AF Tracking

Once you focus on your subject, the AF Tracking automatically follows it until you press the shutter. When you're taking images of an active subject, like children or pets, this function eliminates the need to press the shutter button halfway down repeatedly to readjust the focus.

12.1-megapixel MOS Sensor

The new 12.1-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor boasts an excellent S/N ratio resulting in super clear images with less noise even in high sensitivity recording. Together with the high performance image processing LSI Venus Engine, it elevates the response, sensitivity and image quality to an even higher level.

Intelligent Noise Reduction System

The excellent S/N (Signal to Noise) ratio of the MOS sensor combined with the Intelligent Noise Reduction system in the Venus Engine delivers photos and videos from low to high sensitivity with outstanding clearness.

Intelligent HDR

You will be delighted by the creative possibilities that Intelligent HDR (High Dynamic Range) in the iA Mode delivers. Shoot several still pictures consecutively at different exposure levels that are then overlaid to produce a single composite picture without whiteout (over-exposure) or blackout (under-exposure). The results are stunning. The HDR Mode is also available in the Scene Modes.

Progressive Scanning

This feature reproduces all image data in a single picture.

24x Optical Zoom during video recording

The 24x optical zoom brings you closer to the action, from people and animals, to dynamic sports scenes. The side lever makes it smoother to zoom, and focus can also be changed with this lever making it convenient for video recording.

Motion Picture Button

Video recording can be easily started with the press of the Motion Picture Button making it convenient for switching between photo and video shooting instantly.

MP4 Format Recording

If you want to edit your videos on a computer or upload them to a website, the DMC-FZ200 can record full HD 1,920 x 1,080 30p (NTSC) videos in MP4 format.

Power O.I.S. with Active Mode

The Active Mode effectively suppresses blur in video recordings especially at wide-angle settings while walking or playing with children or moving subjects.

Stereo Microphone

Panasonic has incorporated a stereo zoom microphone resulting in videos with the high-quality stereo sound of Dolby® Digital. This delivers realistic sound to your videos. Mechanical noise caused by the camera’s zooming operation is suppressed to improve the clearness.

• Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

Auto Wind Cut

The Auto Wind Cut function blocks out most noise from background wind making the voices you are recording stand out.

HD High-Speed Video

The DMC-FZ200 records high-speed videos at 120 fps (NTSC / HD)*or 240 fps (NTSC / VGA)*in MP4 format. This allows you to capture scenes that can't be seen with the naked eye, and play them back in dramatically slow motion.

Creative Controls and Photo Style

The Creative Control feature for video matches the colors to your subject and surroundings. In Miniature Effect Mode, the video you record is played back 10x faster making it more comical and fun to watch*.

*Sound will not be recorded with Miniature Effect in Creative Control Mode and approximately 1/10 of the time period is recorded. (If you record for 10 minutes, the resulting motion picture recording will be approximately 1 minute long.)

Creative Video Mode

The Creative Video Mode gives you the freedom to adjust the shutter speed and aperture any way you want when shooting videos.

Battery Life

The energy-saving Venus Engine and efficient, rechargeable lithium-ion battery lets you take approximately 540 shots on a single battery charge*.

NOTE*1Recording conditions by CIPA standard / - CIPA is an abbreviation of [Camera & Imaging Products Association]. / - Temperature: 23 oC (73.4 oF)/Humidity: 50%RH when LCD monitor is on. / - Using a Panasonic SD Memory Card (32 MB). / - Using the supplied battery. / - Starting recording 30 seconds after the camera is turned on. (When the optical image stabilizer function is set to [ON].) / - Recording once every 30 seconds with full flash every second recording. / - Rotating the zoom lever from Tele to Wide or vice versa in every recording. / - Turning the camera off every 10 recordings and leaving it until the temperature of the battery decreases. / *2 / - These are standard times taken at a temperature of 23 oC (73.4 oF) and a humidity of 50%RH. / - The time available for recording varies depending on the environment, the interval between recordings, and the manner of use. / - Actual recordable time is the time available for recording when repeating actions such as switching the power supply [ON] / [OFF], starting/stopping recording, zoom operation etc. / - Motion pictures in [MP4] can be recorded continuously for up to 29 minutes 59 seconds. Also, motion picture recorded continuously in [MP4] is up to 4 GB.

Awards

Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 by 101
reviewers.

Rated 5 out of 5 by Pat Austin A Great Camera for any Amateur
The Lumix FZ200 doesn't quite fit in your pocket,but what it it does do far outways that problem. For any amateur this camera is more than good - It's great. There are plenty of pixels to crop and still have a quality image when you are done. I have yet to take a bad picture with it. I can capture a good image of a fly on a peach at 25 feet and have the peach fill the whole frame with clarity. I give this camera an A+ for my needs.
June 21, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by Stan Nice Super Zoom Camera
Pros:
Intuitive interface
Excellent lens with F2.8 constant max aperture
Excellent zoom range
Image stabilization works very well
Ability to shoot RAW files
Stereo microphone input jack
Usable electronic view finder (EVF)
Articulated LCD screen with logical switching between the EVF and LCD display.
Decent built-in pop-up flash
Cons:
Poor computer software, could only adjust a single RAW file at a time, can not use the settings from one image on another (extremely slow work flow if you need to make the same noise reduction adjustment on 100 images).
Noisy chip at moderate ISO. For reasonably low noisy, stay at ISO 800 or below.
The hand grip is a little too short, my pinky can't fit on the grip
April 24, 2015

Rated 5 out of 5 by APSICON Excellent purcbase
The Lumix FL 200 really Iives up to Panasonic' s description.
April 23, 2015

Rated 4 out of 5 by Daylight Almost perfect
I upgraded from my FZ28 and I am so glad I did! Just the tilt-swivel LCD screen was worth it. I take a lot of macro shots and this LCD allows me to take photos without becoming a pretzel. The viewfinder is one of the few that I have been able to use with my glasses on. I've gotten some amazing shots with this camera. I do think that some improvements are possible (why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars - but actually I'd say it is 4.5). I would prefer to be have a touch screen to determine point of focus. It is frustrating to have to push a button and then move the focus point up and down. Also, I think the exposure system needs improvement. In some situations I have to decrease exposure significantly and in others increase it just to get the right level. Finally, I want a hard copy manual and they do not provide them or even sell them. However, despite those limitations, I don't think you can go wrong purchasing this.
April 5, 2015